truer

Truer is the comparative form of the adjective true. It is used to indicate that something possesses a greater degree of truth, accuracy, fidelity, or authenticity than something else. In addition to factual correctness, true can describe loyalty or sincerity, and truer can apply across these senses. The usual comparative for this one-syllable adjective is formed with -er, as in "truer," while the corresponding superlative is "truest."

Etymology traces truer to Old English treowe, meaning faithful or trustworthy, from the Proto-Germanic root *trewwaz. Related words appear in other Germanic languages, such as Dutch trouw and German treu. Over time, the sense broadened from faithful allegiance and reliability to include alignment with facts and reality.

Usage notes include that truer serves as the standard comparative for true in many contexts. While some speakers might say "more true" for emphasis or stylistic reasons, "truer" remains the conventional choice in ordinary writing and speech. The word can describe various domains, from factual accounts and representations to personal character and loyalties.

Examples: "Her account was truer than his," "The truer version of events emerged after new evidence," "He was a truer friend than most."

See also: true, truth, trueness, veracity. Truer functions as a grammatical form rather than a separate lexical item, but it carries the nuance of increased authenticity or fidelity within its semantic range.